College sports are a mess right now, with more drama in offseason courtrooms than on the playing surface. In the latest public flap, Duke is currently suing QB Darian Mensah for breach of contract after he entered the transfer portal and signed with Miami despite having signed over his NIL rights to Duke.
Things have been rather quiet where Alabama is concerned, but Matt Stahl broke news today that will change that. Former Alabama basketball center Charles Bediako has filed suit hoping to play for
Nate Oats again, effective immediately.
“The NCAA has taken the stance that participation in NBA G League games does not render an athlete ineligible for future NCAA competition,” the complaint reads. “When the NCAA recently reinstated James Nnaji, who was drafted 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft (the same draft that Mr. Bediako entered), the NCAA also determined that a player’s entering and remaining in the NBA Draft does not render the student-athlete ineligible for future NCAA competition.”
Other examples of players rejoining the college ranks after spending time in the G League includes London Johnson at Louisville and Abdullah Ahmed at BYU.
Bediako has already enrolled at UA. He is attempting to return to the court this season, requesting an immediate order stopping the NCAA from keeping him out of games.
Based on the Nnaji precedent, Chuck should have a great case. He was part of the 2021 recruiting class, meaning that this would be his final season of “five to play four.” He was not drafted, and never appeared in a NBA game. As strange as it is for a player to return to school years after entering the NBA Draft, it’s tough to see how Bediako would be denied.
Needless to say, this would be huge for Alabama. Interior defense has been an issue, and Bediako is elite in that area. He would likely start in the middle and slide Aiden Sherrell to power forward, which would immediately give Nate Oats one of the top frontcourts in America.
Stay Tuned.
